By Charles Nkunda
KAMPALA/February 12: As the nation grapples with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eelectricit Regulatory authority, ERA, is swimming in mountainous staff slaaries.
A leaked list has shocked thenation and we have it.
In our current Uganda wehere it has become a norm to hear those in power threatening to fire striking government employees like medics, teachers, and university lecturers etal for demanding salary pay rise, ironically, there are some government agencies/MDAs/ parastatals whose bosses just sit in boardrooms and allocate themselves salaries and other abnormal amenities at their own will.
No one can dare sniff into their financial affairs, not even the Auditor General can exactly know what’s happening there as far as finances are concerned. One of those agencies is the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), if allegations contained in a whistleblower report in our possession are to go by.
ERA is a government agency that regulates, licenses, and supervises the generation, transmission, distribution, sale, export, and importation of electrical energy in Uganda. It reviews and sets electricity tariffs, prices, charges and other terms of supply of electricity after analysis and crucial stakeholder consultation. It supervises all power companies and ensures they comply with terms and conditions of licenses issued to them. It also advises the Energy Minister regarding the need for electricity projects. It has its own vote.
The latest Audotor Generalreport paints a picture of an agency embroiled in each and every scandal.
A whistleblower, who is now imploring the offices of the IGG, parliament, Auditor General to reign over the authority, also talks of emerging ERA incompetence on sector regulation, staff disgruntlement, harassment, low morale, cliquism and favoritism. Others include irregular remuneration, bonuses and allowances of staff across the top structure, irregular Board expenses and Board capture by the CEO.
It is a voluminous report which we cannot detail at once but it will be instead in parts and today we are looking at the alleged irregular remuneration of staff across the top structure of ERA.
ERA Staff salary Shocker
According to the whistleblower report, a salary review was conducted in 2018. Despite the study having been done by a consultant at the cost to the institution, the review was reportedly high-jacked to institute the desires and designs of the current CEO Eng. Zaria Tibalwa Waako who had held the position in acting capacity from November 2016 following the re-designation of Dr. Benon Mutambi to the Ministry of Internal affairs.
That this was allegedly done deliberately by the CEO to kick start her new strategy to capture Authority management.
The review, according to the report, had limited participation only attracting Directors and Managers relegating all the lower cadre officers to spectator capacity.
Forget about the likes of KCCA’s Dorothy Kisaka, UNRA’s Allen Kagina, NSSF’s Richard Byarugaba, URA’s John Rujoki and others that we thought earn a lot of money. At ERA, the top managers are in their own category.
The CEO reportedly effected salary increments that saw her salary increase from UGX38,000,0000 to over UGX50,000,000; directors pay doubled to highs of over UGX40,000,000 from an average of UGX18,000,000 before the review.
Similarly, managers’ pay reportedly increased from an average of UGX12, 000,000 to as high as UGX28, 000,000. The rest of the staff at officer level saw their salaries rise by a maximum of UGX200, 000.
While the total monthly salary paid might look juicy, a mother of rifts is brewing among employees of the ERA after the full list of salaries for staff members was also leaked by the whistleblower with the majority left feeling like they are earning only worth of a rat-milkshake per month. It is such disparities that have caused friction among staff with many demanding not only answers but more money.
Our insider source tells us that since the salary list leaked, most employees’ attitude towards work has deteriorated with commitment hitting an all-time low.
“It’s unfortunate really. Most staff who do the donkey work [in the field] are actually paid like dogs. It’s unfair and employees are saying enough is enough,” said a source.
ERA Speaks Out
MediaScape News contacted ERA’s Director of Corporate and Consumer Affairs, Julius Wandera. Although he was uncomfortable and had reservations over the story being published, he gave us a comment and we reproduce the response verbatim:
“The information presented is wrong, misleading and is not factual. ERA’s salary structure is determined with the key objective to ensure that ERA as a regulator attracts and retains a highly competent and motivated workforce. The remuneration review and the determination of a salary structure is provided for in Section 9.2 and 9.3 of the ERA Human Resource’s Manual, 2018 and ERA staff Regulations 2021. The Authority approved the ERA current salary structure on 8th January 2018 and the decision was informed by a study and the results of the job evaluation, grading process and salary benchmarking, which were aligned to organization structure. The study was done by ABS Consulting Group, which conducted an Organizational review and alignment of the authority structure and human resources to its strategic and business plan. The current salary structure of ERA represent the market assessment and risks faced by ERA and internal and external equity as follows: The need to ensure that ERA attracts staff it requires; Encourage staff to remain in ERA; Provides rewards for good performance and incentives for improvement; Achieve equity for similar jobs; Creates appropriate differentials between different levels of jobs; and Operates flexibly enough to accommodate market changes.”
Whereas MediaScape News could not verify the authenticity, the salary list is in our possession and is reproduced below:
EMPLOYEE NAME | RANK | BEFORE INCREMENT (GROSS PAY- 04/2017) | AFTER INCREMENT (GROSS PAY- AUGUST/2020) | |
1 | ZILIA TIBALWA | CEO | 38,135,080 | 51,805,063,80 |
2 | JACK.S.MUKUMBYA | MANAGER | 11,622,336 | 28,499,469,31 |
3 | PETER KITYO | MANAGER | 15,661,390 | 28,499,469,31 |
4 | WANDERA JOHN | DIRECTOR | 11,622,336 | 41,975,571,12 |
5 | ERON NAMUGGA | OFFICER | 4,505,677 | 7,905,906,37 |
6 | JOSEPH BWAMBALE | PRINCIPAL | 9,260,824 | 12,641,671,41 |
7 | JULIET MUGOYA | PA-CEO | 7,606,760 | 15,802,089,26 |
8 | SAMUEL LUGOLOLE | OFFICER | 4,213,101 | 6,851,626,04 |
9 | STELLA ONEDO ACHIRO | SENIOR | 5,313,274 | 14,573,152,73 |
10 | WAMOKA REMMY.J | DRIVER | 4,651,401 | 6,571,824,84 |
11 | FRANSISCA KORUBARO | WELLFARE FACILITATOR | 2,504,490 | 4,312,364,69 |
12 | ADAH AKAMUMPA | WELLFARE FACILITATOR | 2,504,490 | 4,312,364,69 |
13 | VIANNEY MUTYABA | MANAGER | 11,622,336 | 23,199,575,45 |
14 | PETER KAKEETO | MANAGER | 11,622,336 | 23,199,575,45 |
15 | BENNET MUSINGUZI | DRIVER | 1,969,926 | 3,792,360,00 |
16 | HAROLD OBIGA | DIRECTOR | 18,021,961 | 43,721,849,63 |
17 | ISAAC VIVIAN KINHONHI | MANAGER | 11,576,030 | 22,190,071,76 |
18 | SSEMANDA STEPHEN | DRIVER | 2,268,217 | 4,492,047,77 |
19 | JUDITH NAYIGA | MANAGER | 7,107,325 | 23,199,575,77 |
20 | OTEMA CHARLES LWANGA | OFFICER | 3,513,093 | 7,905,906,37 |
21 | WAMBOGA CATHERINE NABONGO | PRINCIPAL | 9,862,102 | 11,759,694,24 |
22 | OLWENY ANSELM | MANAGER | 11,576,030 | 27,237,589,70 |
23 | AMINA NAMUDDU | OFFICER | 2,268,217 | 7,744,946,21 |
24 | GEOFREY OKOBOI | DIRECTOR | 18,021,961 | 43,721,849,63 |
25 | JOSEPH ERIAU | DRIVER | 3,864,799 | 5,339,279,56 |
26 | DOROTHY WANIALA | SENIOR | 5,313,274 | 9,098,793,21 |
27 | ALICE STELLA NAMALE | OFFICER | 4,213,101 | 6,851,625,82 |
28 | DIANA NAMBI | MANAGER | 11,576,030 | 21,794,188,00 |
29 | EGUA GONDA FRANCIS | DRIVER | 1,969,926 | 3,792,360,00 |
30 | NOOR OMAR | SENIOR | 5,710,865 | 9,098,793,21 |
31 | PHILEMON MUGOYA | MANAGER | 7,107,325 | 23,199,575,45 |
32 | DANIEL OLINGA | PRINCIPAL | 5,710,865 | 12,641,671,41 |
33 | PATRICK TUTEMBE | PRINCIPAL | 9,260,824 | 12,641,671,41 |
34 | MOSES SIMBWA | MANAGER | 6,903,639 | 22,190,071,76 |
35 | EDWARD IRUURA | DIRECTOR | 18,021,961 | 43,721,849,63 |
36 | INNOCENT NASWALI | MANAGER | 5,313,274 | 22,190,071,76 |
37 | ANDREW ALOKA | SENIOR | 1,111,538 | 9,098,793,21 |
38 | LISBET KOMUJUNI | SENIOR | 3,324,121 | 9,098,793,21 |
39 | STELLAH NAKIBUUKA | OFFICER | 3,513,093 | 7,512,597,83 |
40 | ERIC KATABARWA BUTIME | SENIOR | 5,710,865 | 9,098,793,21 |
41 | JOHN SATURDAY | MANAGER | 12,529,112 | 28,499,469,31 |
42 | GRACE KIIJA | SENIOR | 5,710,865 | 9,098,793,21 |
43 | CHARLOTTE KYOHAIRWE | SENIOR | 5,313,274 | 9,098,793,21 |
44 | PAUL WANDULU | OFFICER | 4,630,895 | 6,851,626,04 |
45 | COLLINE OTIMGUI | OFFICER | 1,343,424 | 3,792,360,00 |
46 | REHEMAH NASSUNAH | SENIOR | 3,837,364 | 8,463,993,66 |
47 | JOHN NTENDE | MANAGER | – | 28,499,469,31 |
48 | JAMES WASSWA NSUBUGA | PRINCIPAL | – | 11,003,191,76 |
49 | STEVEN MWANDHA | MANAGER | – | 28,499,469,31 |
50 | ROBERT KARUHANGA | DRIVER | – | 13,082,120,00 |
51 | CHRISTOPHER OKELLO | DRIVER-CEO | – | 14,382,647,14 |
52 | JOAN NAMBOZO | SENIOR | 1,111,538 | 8,463,993,66 |
53 | ROGERS ABIGABA | OFFICER | – | 6,505,754,82 |
54 | DANIEL OBOL MUTTU | SENIOR | – | 13,859,324,30 |
55 | RICHARD OKOU | DIRECTOR | – | 43,721,849,63 |
56 | SHARON ASHABA | SENIOR | – | 8,463,993,66 |
57 | MIKE MBAZIRA | SENIOR | – | 8,463,993,66 |
58 | MICHEAL MWONDHA | SENIOR | – | 9,773,897,44 |
59 | NYESIGA MOSES | OFFICER | – | 6,930,043,20 |
60 | ANTONIO AGABA | CONTRACT STAFF | – | 3,889,809,47 |
61 | KASOBA ALBERT | OFFICER | – | 32,841,582,84 |
62 | MUYOMBA IVAN | GRADUATE TRAINEE | – | 1,111,538,00 |
63 | KWAMYA FAITH KUSIIMA | GRADUATE TRAINEE | – | 1,111,538,00 |
64 | PROSSY TUMWEBAZE CATHERINE | OFFICER | – | 5,657,178,06 |
65 | SAMUEL KIZITO | OFFICER | – | 5,657,178,06 |
66 | JOEL ADOMATI | SENIOR | – | 8,463,993,66 |
67 | ERINA JACKLINE NAKARWOKO | GRADUATE TRAINEE | – | 1,111,538,00 |